How to Choose a Massage School in Your 30s

Are You Ready for a Career That Feels Like a Calling?

If you're in your 30s or 40s and thinking about going back to school—you're not alone. More and more people are leaving unfulfilling jobs in search of meaningful, hands-on work that helps others heal and feel better in their bodies.

Massage therapy can be a deeply rewarding second (or third!) career—but how do you choose the right school when you're not 18 anymore? You might have kids, bills, a busy life, and a whole lot more self-awareness than you did when you first started college or work. That’s actually a huge asset.

Let’s walk through what really matters when choosing a massage therapy school in your 30s.

What to Look for in a Massage School as an Adult Learner

Here are the top things to consider:

• Flexibility

  • Can you study part-time, online, or in a hybrid format?

  • Does the schedule fit around your current responsibilities (work, caregiving, etc.)

• Learning Style Support

  • Do you learn best by reading, watching, doing, or discussing?

  • Does the school offer multiple formats of learning—videos, hands-on practice, mentoring?

• Accreditation & Licensure

  • Make sure the program meets your state’s licensing requirements

  • Confirm it prepares you for the MBLEx exam, which most states require.

• Financial Transparency

  • Look beyond tuition—ask about books, supplies, and required travel.

  • Some schools offer payment plans or separate tuition for online and hands-on portions.

• Community & Mentorship

  • Are you joining a program where you'll be seen as a whole person, not just a number?

  • Do graduates have access to continuing education, job support, or mentorship?

Now, you may have other questions too, and we are more than ready to discuss those with you, but these are questions and concerns that we hear frequently. Let’s answer each of these in turn.

Flexibility - Are you looking for a program that offers study on your schedule and at your pace? Are you looking for a traditional program where you go to school several days a week for 6+ months? More and more massage schools are offering hybrid massage programs, where your learning is self-paced for the first (roughly) two thirds of the program and in person for the final portion to do your practical, hands-on training. These programs can be a wonderful alternative to the traditional programs that last several months and have you physically going to class each day. 

Learning Style Support - Do you know what learning style suits you best? It’s okay if you don’t, but if you do, you’ll have a much easier time eliminating possible massage schools to attend. One of the best things about our programs at Contatto Wellness is that we have made it our mission to serve as many learning styles as we can. Almost without fail, your preferred learning style will be employed when you enroll in one of our programs. We know from experience how important it is to feel seen and supported in the classroom. 

Accreditation and Licensure - This is perhaps the most important factor to consider when choosing your massage school. Make sure the program you choose meets your state’s requirements! Keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to attend an in-state school, but if the school you choose is only a 500-hour program and your state requires 650 hours, you’re going to be scrambling to find more hours once you finish your program. At the same time, even if a program doesn’t meet your state’s requirements exactly, if the school is willing to work with you to make sure that you are able to get licensed then they may be a good choice, granted the hours aren’t too much of a disparity.

Financial Transparency - There can be a lot more to the total cost of massage school than the tuition. Make sure you know what expenses you are expected to cover and what expenses the school covers, especially in a hybrid program where travel and potentially meals, lodging, and other necessities are involved. A $6000-tuition program may look great until you learn you have to pay for accommodations and food the entire time you're attending the hands-on session, not to mention the travel to the session. Those costs can add up quickly. 

Community and Mentorship - This has been the biggest drawback that we have seen when it comes to hybrid programs. Most see you as a number or a means to an end. A lot of hybrid programs do not provide you with personalized instruction, they won’t know your name, and then, when you show up for your “hands-on training,” you’ll be pushed into a student clinic with very little preparation and expected to perform an exorbitant amount of massages (up to 250 in some cases). Your massage school experience shouldn’t be anonymous and it certainly shouldn’t be indentured servitude. 

While these principles can be applied at whatever age you’re looking to begin your massage career, being in massage school as an adult learner who has already had a career is really a bonus. 

• You’re more motivated and intentional about your choices

• You’re likely better at time management

• You know the kind of people you want to surround yourself with (and those you don’t!)

• You probably have a deeper sense of empathy—which makes you a more intuitive bodyworker

Plus, your life experience can only enhance your ability to hold space for others.

If you’re ready to take the next step, or even if you’re just starting to consider it, I’m inviting you to:

👉 Book a free info call if you’d like to talk about whether our hybrid program is a good fit

👉 Learn more about the Contatto Wellness Hybrid Massage Therapy Program